Hopper construction and means for accurately filling measuring chambers of food packing machines



July 8,1952

O Y- r E. H. CARRUTHERS 2,602,579

HOPPER CONSTRUCTION AND MEANS FOR ACCURATELY FILLING MEASURING CHAMBERS OF FOOD PACKING MACHINES Filed Dec. 6, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

585 H. GARRUTHERS M L C abm k ms Arromvsr y 1952 E. H. CARRUTHERS A 2,602,579

HOPPER CONSTRUCTION AND MEANS FOR ACCURATELY FILLING MEASURING CHAMBERS OF FOOD PACKING MACHINES Filed Dec. 6, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EBEN H. 0ARRUTHER3 ZWW HIS ATTORNEY July 8, 1952 A E. CARRUTI- IERS 2,602,579

HOPPER CONSTRUCTION AND MEANS. FOR ACCURATELY FILLING MEASURING CHAMBERS OF FOOD PACKING MACHINES Fi led Dec. 6,- 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3- I N VEN TOR. EBE/V H. CAR/PU THE RS HIS ATTORNEY Patented July 8 19 52 MACHINES ga li De e ber,

the art a S PATENT J 2,602,579 r H HOPPER CONSTRUCTION AND MEANS TFOR ACCURATELY FILLING MEASUR- LING CHAMBERS F Foon PACKING 3 Eben Carruthers, Warrenton, Oreg.

6,1949, Serial No. 131,392 J W 19Claims. x01. 225-102) An object of myinvention is toprovide'a machine which will produce a pack of tuna which may be accurately characterized as bite size or chunk'style. v 1

Another object of my inventionis :to provide a machine having ahopperiritowhich thechunks "Iri jmy co pending application Serial No.

774,626, nieisepteinber '1-7'," 1947, which issued September's; 195-1 as Pateiit11012567352; and

entitled Methodand Apparatus for Packing Flake =Mat'erials,"; haveshown and described' a machine "for packing food products; particularly t na-fish=;- then 'achine of that application. tuna-fish ina'dividedstate is'ldeposited" in a series er -filling" poc V The i cylinders are fillefdwith Y a predetermined volumeof-tunaiafter'-whichgthe tuna is come pressed into a cakeof substantially the'desired weight and then" the cakes are transferred in serie's't'o cans I e lhehopper' infthe abovefrnentioned application is provided. -wltha screw or helical conveyor or fish from piling up in-the hopper by" a itating the fish suiliciently to induce it to fall by gravity into the sencs'or pockets or cylinders' which continuously-pass beneath and in registry :with the; hopper." Ihave found tha't even though the tuna is cut properly soas to produce chunks or bite size pieces; the hopper *and primarily the screw or helical conveyor of that application exerts a beatlongitudinal and transverse cuts of theloins. to produce what may properly be called chunks of tuna. From-the cutter or guillotine of that application, the tuna is fed-by asconveyor to the hopper of my above mentioned 'applicationbut as: previously m'entionedi-even" though the tuna is properly cut, the hopper and screw conveyor tend; to 'exert too rough an action on the rather. delicate tuna whichtends tcbreak it up, into particles which are meanest-pm tconne.

on cylinders from" a hoppe -c of tuna are fed which exerts aminimum of undesirable harsh, agitating orbeatingaction on the chunks of tuna likely to cause-them to' break up into-too finely a divided state. p V

A further object ofmy invention to provide a hopper whereina mechanismxls provided for shaking "the hoppenvpreferably' in a direction longitudinally of thedirection of rnovement of the filling pockets or cylinders; for thepurpose of assisting the action off -gravity in allowing; the chunks of tuna to Ldrlipmore-or less vfreely from the hopper into the pockets asthey-pass therebeneath, the hopper and the mechanism' for agitating it-being designed'to exert a minimum of harsh acti'onon the tuna to preserve it in the state into which it has previouslybeen l 'cuty as above mentioned, and produce a pack of tuna which may properl'yfbe characterizedas a chunk style" or bitesiz'e. 7 v l My inventionv further contemplates the provisionof a hopper particularly adapted tobe used in connection withithe machine of my above mentioned co-pending application wherein means areprovided for shaking the; hopper, preferably in a direction longitudinally of the" direction'of movement of thefilling pockets or'cylinders', to

assist the actionof gra ty in depo iting the provision off means for returningithe cut-off excess back to the hopperfor redepo'sit in a sue ceeding filling pocket orcylinderjto the" end that the tuna does not pile up and clog adjacent the cut-off knife.

Other objects andadvantages ofmy invention will be particularly set forth in the claims and will be apparent from the following description,

when taken in connection with drawings; in which? 7 V p v Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the-hopperjof my invention'and ShOWil'lg it injrelation to the continuously moving f lling pockets "or cylinders he accompanying which itiis adapted to an; i 1

Pi 21$ a w mil 'i ivi iipari here' f d na ts brok a era e: othtnrarisf shown'in dotted lines for the purpose of better illustrating the action of the hopper and its operating mechanism;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the machine looking from the right of Fig. l V

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the machine;

Fig. 5 isasectional view taken substantially on the lines 55-of Fig. 4 in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the pockets or cylinders which continuously pass beneath the hopper to be filled volumetrically by chunks-oi} tuna induced to flow from the hopper by gravity into the pockets and showing the action of the 'cut-ofi or trimming knife;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged view of a. portion .of the shaker mechanism for the hopper; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the hopper and its associated parts better to illustrate the shape of the hopper. 3

While the hopper and operating mechanism therefor has been particularly designed for the production of a so-called bite size or chunk style pack of tuna, it has other uses in connection with the packing oi. products, particularly food products which are not free flowing and which have a tendency to jam or clog in the hopper. Thus, the hopper of my invention as a unit may be employed in connection with other types of filling machines and is not necessarily restricted to use in connection'with the machine of my copending application.

In Figs. 1 and 2, I have shown a series of filling pockets or cylinders H which as described in my above mentioned co-pendingapplication, are continuously moved through a path of travel, part of which includes a pocket or cylinder filling station generally indicated by the number l2. The filling station 12 is defined by the length of the hopper plusits amplitude of movement. In Fig. 6 I have shown the pockets or cylinders H in section and have indicated the plungers l3, which/as described in my above mentioned co-pending application, are raised to a predetermined adjustable height so as to provide a cylindrical volume of predetermined capacity for the reception of the chunks of tuna or other materials to be packed.

The machine of the above mentioned copending' application is oval in plan view so as to provide a relatively long straight run filling station to insure full volumetric fill of the pockets or .cylinwith a filling machine which is circular in plan,

view and in which the pockets or cylinders i I move through a circular path. I contemplate embodying the principles of the present hopper suitably modified in shape and form, into a hopper construction for use in connection with a filling machine having such a circular path of movement of the filling pockets or cylinders. v

The hopper of my invention, generally indicated by the numeral I5, the shape of which is shown most clearly in Fig. 8, has a wide mouth open top for the reception of the material from a conveyor which dumps the chunks of tuna properly cut into the top opening of the hopper. The

hopper also has an open bottom I4 which, as indicated in Fig. 8 and also in Figs. 1 and 2, is in registry with the filling pockets or cylinders ll substantially throughout the extent of the] filling station l2.

Thez-hopper hama side-gvalhlfi; which; slopes at afisteep i'angle d wnw rdly .an ii iva'rclly. s as to present a wide open mouth for the reception of the tuna from the delivering conveyor (not shown). The downwardly and inwardly sloping sidewall-IQ merges at H with a vertically extending *yvall la jthe lower longitudinal edge I! of which'is, in. close relationship with the upper faces 2| of the castings in which the filling .pockets'or cylinders II are formed. The downwardly and inwardly sloping side wall is has a horizontally"extending upper edge 22 which mergeswith a downwardly and inwardly sloping edge 23. The edge 23 merges at 24 with the upper edge I! of the vertical wall l8. 4

'The vertical wall. I8 is extended at 26, bent transversely as shown at 2 9 andlrebent longitudinally asshown at}! to -terminateina free ease: to form what may .be called a combined sweepand guide as, the runc'ti ii' oriwmch' will be presently described] I Th h pper has-a vertical front wall Slfwhich begins adjacent the numeral- .26,. extends ;longl,-' :tudinally and: terminates adjacent the numeral, 31. 'I his front wall 3 l has a lower edge 38 which lies; adja ent the P p fa e .1! 9 the ta n.- l l' fi ng Q FBtSP E Qyl qf t rme in a mi a m l er t the ed =19. (it-t e wa h h p r includes a e ehi te. n a l indicated by the numeral 39, w-h ich has a front wall 4|, a sidewallplZ mergingwith thefront wall 34 and a steep angledownwardly sloping bottom wall'43. The return chute includes an end wall 44 whichmerges with the wall 45 which constitutes the end wall of the entire hopper.

The front-and rear walls-.0; the hopper are connected togetherby tie rods, 50 and- 50". The tie rods "50 "a're relativelyr'clos ely spaced with relation; to the tops of. the 'ngpockets fora purpose which will later appear.

The entire hopp r above described constitutes a single unit of sheet steel, s h aped inthemanner described to allow free and-;easy. fl ow 01 1311 61151 y r v y i of' the pocke s q s yl e s o h machine. When usedin; connection with a filling machine which is circular =in;plan the rear wall and possibly the front wall of the hopper are bent onthearcofacircle.

In Fig. 3 I have indicateda portion of the means for supporting the hopper. and-its asso ciated mechanism from theirame ofgthe machine.

Horizontally extending plates ,4 6 and 41 are-por tions of the frame of my above mentionednco: pending-application which are adaptedtoreceive and support the hopper and; associated partsthereof. The rear vertical} wall :I 8 9:. the hopper,

as shown in Flea} and. 3-, has a longitudinally;

extending .L -shaped bracket 48 secured. th reto,

which rides on the horizontally. extending frame vide forks for the reception, ofpivot pinsSZ. pair of parallel arms 53 are provided-with bosses 54 which have i'bores adapted to receivethe pivot The arms 53 V t eupport 51;.car'rie y;-the-Iame.-memberi46 (Fig: 1-. .A mai -sha nfill vfin frgmtheisameare pi'votid; as indicatedatlta,

ou e'of. owe s h f n m hme.. Fia .3

suitably supportedand journaled intheframe jo the machine, as indicatedat 59,;andhasmounted I adjacent the top thereof a sprocket 61 (Fig. .1).

The sprocket Bl drives a ohain 62 which in turn drives a sprocket 63. The sprocket 63 is-fixed to an eccentric shaft 64 which has an eccentric 66 rigidly mounted thereon (Fig. 2) which is in operative relationshipto a pitman 61 pivoted to n fth arm 3assho n .7

It will; now be appreciated that as the main shaft is rotated, the eccentric 6B is rotated to actuate the pitman 6'1 and swing the left hand arm 53 v as viewed in Fig. 2 about its pivot 56.

The arms 53 move iii parallelism and through the connections previously described reciprocate the e hopper 15 in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the fillingpocketsor'cylinders ll. As shown most clearly in Fig. 7,,preferably the connection between the pitmanfi'l. and the arm 53,

is: formediby a p in and slot 69 .so that at the beginning of each'change in the direction of movemerit of the hopper. a jarv is imparted to the hopper by the rapid change in the direction of movement. The purpose of imparting a jar to the hopper is to aid in looseningany pieces of tuna which may tend to adhere-to the walls of the hopper and to enable gravity to act on the mass of pieces to cause them tofallthrough; the bot-g tom opening of the hopper into the pockets orcylinders. .Atthe same time the tie rods 50', three being shown in the drawings, are being reciprocat'ed just above the filling pockets which action breaks up any tendency for the pieces to mass and clog atthe outletfrom the hopper.

Driven from the main shaft 58 is a second sprocket 16 whichv in turn drives a chain T! which extends partway arounda sprocket 18 mounted on a knife shaft 19. The chain 11 extends around an adjustable idler roller BI and also drives a sprocket 82 mounted on and rigidlysecured to a shaft 83 v As shown most clearly in Figs. 3 a'nd 4, the knife shaft '19 isjournaled in bearings 84 supported by a part of the main frame of the machine andby a horizontally extending support bracketf86 (see also Fig. 2 The support bracket 86' is integral with a vertically extending supporting wall 85 which is preferably welded to the main frame and.

to a vertically extending channel 85 (Fig. 2) also depending from and welded to the main frame. i 4 I As shown'most'clearl'y in Fig. 3, the lower end of the knife shaft 19 is enlarged, asshown at 81, to provide an abutment for the reception of a circular knife 88. The lower end of the; shaft is threaded to receive a nut 89 to hold the knife on r the shaft.

As appears most clearly from Figs. 3. and 4,.

the cut-oif or trimming knife 88 rotates in a horizontal' plane and is located adjacent the discharge end of. the filling station (see Fig. 2 and lies immediately above and in fact substantially flush withth'e faces-ofthe castings in which the filling pockets .are'formed (Fig. 6). The action of the trimming knife is illustratedin Fig. 6. The extent of the path of travel ofthe filling pockets or cylinders in registly with the hopper is relatively'long, atleast seven of the filling pockets being in registry with the hopper simultaneously.

This relatively long length of travel insures that the pockets or cylinders will be adequatelyfilled,

in fact, over-flowing with material It is necessary in order to insure substantially wavsat leastparti lly full ch s of tuna to nsll at atl ach; cfit e so e s i l'receive an? e -v cess of rnaterial'. Since nopressure is applied on thetuna during the filling operation, the excess material will lie above the upper'horizonta-l plane, of the pockets. This excess material i trimmed oifby the trimmingknifefla'so that the material isxsubstantially flush with the plane of the tops ofthe filling pockets or. cylinders, asindicated in Fig-.

,As previously mentioned, the chain 11 drives the shaft 83 which for purposes of identification wi1l;;b.e.;ea'lled a belt shaft. The belt shaft 83,

s .mc tr ea ly sho n ie. s uppo in bearing brackets 9| carried by the-yerticallyex- I The belt I02 extends fromhte discharge end of the filling station longitudinallyof the hopper and upwardly and discharges any material which may bedepositedon the belt into the return chute 39.

the belt traveling in thedirection indicated by the arrows ind (Fig. 8). Asshown most clearly in Fig. 4, on its lower run the belt [02 passes over.

a roller ms to maintain the belt up and out of the way e As shown most clearly in Fig. 5, the upper run of the belt "ll-rides on support plates I08 suitably secured .toaplate I09, A channel I I l is suitably supported at one end by an angle I I 2 which v also extends beneath plate I09. The upper end of the channel I l l is lipped as shown at H3 (Fig. 4) and supported by a portion H4 of the frame of the filling machine. One leg of the channel may be welded adjacent H6 to the plate I09 and to a side stand II! which cooperates with a side stand H8 welded'to the plate I09. The side stands If! and H8 confine the material traveling with the belt in a trough as it is conveyed from the trimming knife backto the return chute 39.

It will now be appreciated that when the machine is in normal operation and the hopper is receiving pieces of chunk tuna from a conveyor (not shown) the pieces tend to drop freely into the pockets, the walls of the hopper being relatively steep and shaped so as to assist orfacilitate the action of gravity. At the same time the hopper is reciprocated preferably in a direction longitudinally of the path of movement of the filling pockets or cylinders. At the beginning of each stroke the hopper is given a slap or jar so as'to free any chunks which may tend to adhere to the inner side walls of the hopper and break up any tendency of the tunato bridge across the hopper.

Due to the fact that the filling pockets or cylinders are moving, to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, there is some tendency for the. material to travel in that direction. Moreover, the trim ming knife which rotates in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, cuts off excess material as indicated in Fig. 6. This cut off material, together with the natural tendency of the material. to flow from left to right, as viewed in Fig. 1, tends to cause the material to pile up on the rotatin knife.

ed on theouter end of a horizontals hart.

gamma witha sweep 33 which, due to the reclprocations of the hopper, causes a reciprocation of the sweep over and contiguous to the upper face of the knife. This sweeping action tends to direct the tuna at the discharge end of the filling station onto the conveyer I 02, this action being aided by the confining effect of the rebent portion 32 of the sweep 33. Thus the cut off material and any material that tends to pile up on the knife is swept in a counter-clockwise direction by the action of the knife and directed up the conveyor by the sweep and particularly by the rebent portion thereof. This material is deposited by the conveyor into the return chute 39, flows down the inclined bottom wall 43 thereof and back toward the filling pockets or cylinders at the entranceend of the filling station.

It will be 'particularlynoted that during the operation of filling the cylindersas they continuously travel in registry with the hopper, there is a minimum of any action on the chunks of tuna which will tendto break them up. The tie rods 50' do not exert a harsh action on the tuna since they are circular in section and merely tend to assist any tendency for the tuna to form a bridge across the'hopper. Although the tuna is of a somewhat oily and sticky nature, the action of the hopper is such as to assist gravity and provide for relatively free flow of the chunks of tuna into the filling pockets or cylinders without exerting any harsh action on the tuna likely to break it up into undersirably small pieces or flakes.

While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, it will be particularly 'notedthat the hopper of my invention may be adapted to a filling machine which is circular in plan view instead of oval in plan view as shown and described herein. It will be further apparent that various changes may be made, particularly in the form and relation of parts, without de-- parting from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for packing products wherein a plurality of pockets has a continuous movement through a path which includes a filling station, a hopper arranged above and longitudinally of the path of movement of said pockets, and the pocketspassing beneath the hopper from an initial position in registry with the hopper to a position wherein the pockets pass from beneath the hopper, said hopperhaving an open top for receiving'the material and an open bottom, means for agitating the hopper in a direction longitudinally of the path of movement of the pockets to loosen the material in the hopper and cause it to drop by gravity through the bottom opening into the pockets, a rotatable trimming knife adjacent said latter position under whichthe, pockets pass for trimming off excess material to maintain the v volumetric fillof successive pockets substantially constant, and means for returning the trimmings back toward said initial position of registry with and toward the topof the hopper.

2. In 9. machine for packing products wherein a plurality of pockets have a continuous movement through a path which includes a filling station, a hopperarranged above andlongitudinally of the path of movement of said pockets and the pocketsp'assing' beneath the hopper from an initial position in "registry withthehopper to a i position wherein the pockets pass from beneath the hopper, said hopper having "an open top for receiving the material and an open bottom, means pockets, a rotatable trimming knifeadjacent said latter position under which the pockets pass for trimming off excess material to maintain the volumetric fill of successive pockets substantially constant, means for rotating said trimming knife, and means including an upwardly inclined conveyor for returning the trimmings back to the hopper adjacent the point where the pockets initially register with the hopper.

3. In a machine for packing products wherein a plurality of pockets pass a filling station, a hopper arranged at the filling station above the pockets, said hopper having a pair of longitudinally extending side walls at least one of which is downwardly and inwardly extending toward the other wall; a-plurality of members extending transversely between the side walls. in close spaced relation to the plane of the upper ends of the pockets, and means for'reciprocating said'hopper.

4. In a machine for packing products, the combination of a plurality of open top product receiving pockets movable past a filling station and a hopper located at the'fillin station for supplying the pockets with material to be packed, a circular trimming knife adjacent the end of said filling station arranged with its plane of rotation horizontal and being positioned substantially flush with the tops of the pockets for the purpose of trimming off excess material as the pockets pass, means for rotating said trimming knife, a conveyor adjacent the trimming knife for returning the trimmings to a position from whence they may be returned to the hopper, a guide located adjacent said trimming knife for directing the trimmings onto said conveyor, and means for driving said conveyor.

5. In a machine for packing products, the combination of a plurality of open top product receiving pockets movable past a filling station and a hopper located at the fillin station above the path of movement of the pockets for supplying the pockets with material to be packed, said hopper being of a width in the direction of movement of the pockets such that it overlies at least two pockets and the pockets being filled as they pass the hopper from a pocket entry position to a pocket outlet position with respect to the hopper, movable means in connection with the hopper for agitating the material and urging it into the pockets, a circular trimming knife adjacent the pocketoutlet position arranged with its plane of rotation horizontal and being positioned in the path of movement of the pockets and substantially flush with the open ends thereof for the purpose of trimming off excess material as the pockets pass, a conveyor adjacent the trimming knife for returning the trimmings to a position from whence they may be returned to the hopper, a guide substantially contiguous to the upper surface of said trimming knife which in cooperation with the continued rotation of said trimming knife directs the trimmings onto said conveyor, and means for drivin said conveyor.

6. In a machine for packing products, the combination of a plurality of open top product receiving pockets movable past a filling station and a hopper located atthe filling station above the path of movement "of the pockets for supplying the pockets with material to be packed. said hopper being of; awidth in. the direction of movementof the pockets such that it overlies at least the pocket outlet position arranged withits plane of rotation horizontal andib'eingpositioned in the path of movement'oftl'ie pockets and substantially flush with ,,t he ,openendsthereof for the purpose of trimming off excess material as the pockets pass, a-conveyor adjacent thetrimming knife for returning the trimmingsto aposition from whence they may-bereturned-to the hopp and means for driving said conveyor. 1

'7. In a machine for jacking products, the combination of a plurality of 1 open top product receiving measuring chambers' having fixed side walls, said measuring chambers having a pathof movement and movable continuously past a filling station'and a hopper located at the fillin station for supplying the 'n i easuring chambers with material to be packed,'s a id hopper being of a length'in the direction of'movement of the measuring chambers such that it extends the length of at least twomeasuring chambers but substantially less than the length of the. entire path of movement of that-measuring chambers and the measuring eh'a'mbersfbeing filled as they pass the hopper train a 'in'easuring chamber entry position to a measuring chamber outlet position with respect to the hopper, a circular trimming knife-adjacent the measuring chamber outlet position and below the plane of the hopper and arranged with its plane of rotation horizontal, said trimming knife being positioned in the path of movement of the measuring chambers and substantially flush with the open tops thereof forthe purpose of trimming off material overlying the tops of the measuring chambers as the measuring chambers pass, and means for rotating said trimming knife.

8. In a machine for packing products in containers, the combination of a plurality of open top and bottom product receiving measuring chambers for the reception of the material prior to its deposit in the containers, said measuring chambers having fixed side walls which extend vertically, said measuring chambers being movable continuously past a filling station and a hopper located at the filling station for supplying the measuring chambers with a quantity of material in excess of that to be packed in the containers, means for closing the bottoms of said chambers at least during their movement past the filling station, a circular trimming knife arranged with its plane of rotation horizontal and being positioned substantially flush with the tops of the measuring chambers for the purpose of trimming off excess material as the measuring chambers pass, and means for rotating said trimming knife.

9. A machine in accordance with claim 8 in which means areprovided for moving the hopper backward and forward in a direction longitudinally of the path of movement of the measuring chambers.

10. A machine in accordance with claim 8 in which means are provided for moving the hopper backward and forward in a direction longitudinally of the path of movement of the measuring chambers and in which means are carried by the hopper and movable therewith which pass over the tops of the measuring chambers and tend to press the material downward into them.

"11. A machine in accordancejwith claim 8: in

which the measuring chambers are cylindrical with open tops and open bottoms, and means are provided for closing the bottoms temporarily, the bottom closing means .being effective at. least during the filling and trimming operationsbut being inefiective thereafter to enable the material to be discharged from the bottomsvofv the measuring chambers into containers. r

12. A machine in accordance with claim Bin Which a scraper overlies and is contiguous to the upper surface of the trimming knife and prevents the material from reentering the measuring chambers after the trimming knife has perv formed its trimming operation.

7 13. In a machine for packingfproducts', the combination of a plurality of opentop product receiving measuring chambers movable continuously through an endless path of travel part of which includes a measuring chamber filling station, said measuringchambers having fixed vertically extending walls, a circular trimming knife rotatable on avertical' axis and having its cutting edge substantially flush with the open ends of the measuring chambers for trimming off any material which may overlie the tops of the measuring chambers after they pass through at least the major part of the filling statiommeans for rotating said trimming knife, means. for'teinporarily closing the bottoms of said measuring chambers at least during their passage through the filling station and beneath the trimming knife and a hopper arranged at and above the filling station for directing material for deposit in the measuring chambers.

14. A machine in accordance with claim 13 in which the hopper at least partly directly overlies the measuring chambers as they pass through the filling station and means comprising an eccentric moves the hopper backward and forward through a path lying substantially in the path of travel of the measuring chambers.

15. A machine in accordance with claim 13 in which the axis of rotation of the trimming knife is outside of the path of travel of the measuring chambers and the direction of its rotation is such that its rotation moves the trimmed material away from the measuring chambers and means are provided contiguous to the upper surface of the trimming knife for insuring that trimmed material is not returned to the measuring chambers which have been trimmed.

16. A machine in accordance with claim 13 in which the axis of rotation of the trimming knife is outside of the path of travel of the measuring chambers and the direction of its rotation is opposite to the direction in which the measuring chambers are moving so that rotation of the trimming knife moves the trimmed material away from the measuring chambers and means are provided contiguous to the upper surface of the trimming knife for insuring that trimmed material is not returned to the measuring chambers which have been trimmed.

17. In a machine for packing products, the combinationof a plurality of open top product receiving measuring chambers movable continuously through an endless path of travel part of which includes a measuring chamber filling station, said measuring chambers having fixed vertical walls, a circular trimming knife mounted on a vertical axis external of said path of travel, said trimming knife having its cutting edge substantially flush with the open ends of the measuring chambers for trimming off any material which-may overlie the tops-of the measuring chambers after they pass through at least the major .part of. said filling station, means for rotating said trimming knife, a hopper at least partly overlying the path of travel of the measuring chambers and'being located in the filling station and. above the plane of the trimming knife, means for moving said hopper backward and forward in the filling station and in a path at least partly coincident with the path of travel of the measuring chambers, the direction of rotation of said trimming knife being opposite to the direction in which the measuring chambers are moving so that rotation of the trimming knife moves the trimmed material away from the path of travel of the measuring chambers and means including an upwardly extending member having an edge contiguous to the upper surface of said trimming knife .for. insuring that trimmed material is not returned to the measuring chambers after they have been trimmed.

18. A machine in accordance with claim 17 in which means are provided for closing the bottoms of the measuring chambers at least during their passage through the filling station until after their passage below said trimming knife, said closing means thereafter being open for the discharge of material into containers.

19. A machine in accordance with claim 17 in which means are carried by the hopper and movable therewith which pass over the tops of the measuringchambersand tend to press the .material downward into them and in which means are ing chambers at, .least during their passagethrough the filling'stationand until'after their passage below said trimming knife, thereafter said closing means being open for the discharge ofmaterial into containers, V CARRUTHERS,

' The following references are of record in" the file ofthis patent:

NI' DQ T TE ZP T N S Number Date Namev v 573,560 f Whitmarsh Dec. 22, 1896 893,583 Hey etal. July 14L'l908 1,639,415; Boplawski' Ai1g.,16, 927 2,127,393v Doney Aug. 16, 1938 2,127,394 Doney- .Aug. 16,1938 2,164,483 Watson et a1. July 4,1939 2,189,831 Paynter et a1. Feb. 13, ,1940 2,274,606 Christiansen, Feb. 24, 1942 2,340,637 Bauer Feb. 1,1944

FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country M Datef 119,583 Australia Feb. 14, 1945 324,368

, Germany Aug. 24, 1920 

